Light-detector, hand-controlled faucet with water temperature regulator

ABSTRACT

A faucet which uses a light detector to control the faucet as a matter of convenience and for conserving water, and which uses a manual control at power failure when the light detector is not operative so that a supply of water is available at any time from the faucet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the advance of science, the standard of living is improving.Development of improved domestic water supply and associated hardwareshows the progress achieved in the standard of living. However, theconventional city water system is using hand controlled faucets. Thoughthese may be convenient, they must be closed by hand after use, and thusdirt and/or bacteria on the faucet will again be transferred to thehands just cleaned.

Also, use of a manually controlled faucet is not always convenientenough. Parts may be subjected to wear and damage easily due to frequentturning of its bolt, and damage of leak-proofing components causes waterto leak. In view of the aforesaid defects, a light-detector controlledfaucet has been invented. Detection of any article or hand below suchfaucet will open and close the faucet automatically and thus leaving ofdirt or bacteria on the hand is prevented. However, this faucet canfunction only when power is available. Any power failure will precludean elective water supply, and more inconvenience exists.

Accordingly, I have created a light-detector/hand-controlled faucetwhich permits manual operation of the faucet at times of power failureto activate the faucet by way of the light-detector.

Furthermore, the present invention includes a device to control thetemperature of out flowing water, so that it can provide water of anydesired temperature, or selectively cool and hot water alone.

The light-detector hand-controlled faucet with water temperatureregulator is described below with reference to the attached drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provide a water faucet, particularly alight-detector hand-controlled faucet with water temperature regulatorcharacterized by a light detector to control the faucet normally forconvenience of use and water conservation, and a hand-control for use attimes of power failure when the light-detector is not operative so thata desired water supply is available at any time from the faucet.Furthermore, the present invention has a water temperature regulatingdevice which permits supply of water at any desired temperature, or coolor hot water at the user's discretion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective fragmental view of an embodiment according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembly of the embodiment accordingto the present invention.

FIGS. 3A-D illustrates in several views the action of the faucetaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective fragmental view of a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the manifold (1) is across-fitting. The lower end of the cross-type fitting (1) is connectedto a hot water pipe (11) and a cool or cold water pipe (12). Thehorizontal transverse section includes a tubular portion (13), and aparallel tubular water temperature control section (14). The portion(13) includes a selector slot (15) i.e. the long openings at the top, avalve hole (16) which has a diameter which is smaller than that of thetubular portion (13) at the bottom, and a water outlet (17)communicating with the end of the tubular portion (13). The watertemperature control section (14) has an end communicating directly withthe hot water pipe (11) and the cool water pipe (12), with a mixed wateroutlet (18) located above the hot water pipe (11). In front of the watertemperature control section (14), there is a second lower slot selector(19), i.e. the long opening at the bottom. The valve hole (16) isprovided by a tubular projection with a surface in the form of a stepsurrounded by a circular valve opening (20). The water outlet (17) issurrounded by a circular pipe coupling (21). An electric wire conduit(22) extends from the space between the coupling (21) and the wateroutlet (17) to a lateral end surface of the transverse section of themanifold (1).

The tie ring (31) is a circular ring with a circular protuberance aroundits center and a tubular water pressure pipe (32) at its peripheralsurface.

The valve element (33) is a soft and elastic sleeve with an outerdiameter such that it just fits at the inner wall of the valve opening(20), a shoulder at an extension of the peripheral surface, and a valvecover (34) having an outer diameter just equal to the valve hole (16).The valve sleeve (33) also includes a connection hole (35) at thecenter, and a hole (36) at the shoulder of the valve sleeve (33) forcommunicating with the water pressure pipe (32) at the ring (31).

The valve extender (37) has a conical head, a neck having an outerdiameter to just fit the connecting hole (35), a cylindrical portion, adisk-like recess at the bottom, and a long tubular water pressurebalance passage or pipe (38) extending along its center.

The connection element (39) is a ring-like cover with a stop hole (40)communicating with the water pressure pipe (32).

The metallic extending pin (41) has magnetic properties and is connectedto a soft, elastic, and short cylindrical stop head (42) at one end.

The extending pin stop head (43) is in the form of a disc with a tubularextension called the extending pin container (44), for containing theextending pin (41) and a compression spring (45). The extending pin stophead (43) is placed within an induction coil (46). The valve controlpost (51) is in the form of a cylinder corresponding in diameter to thetubular valve control portion (13) and has two leak-proof rings (52) inthe middle, an axial pin (53) aligned with the center of the valve hole(16) at its front end, and a short radially directed, cylindrical,selector pin (54) adapted to be disposed in the selector slot (15).

The valve control ring (55) is a ring with a first groove (56) at itsinner wall for receiving the selector pin (54).

The water temperature control post (57) is a cylinder corresponding indiameter to the water temperature control section (14) and has a hollowrear tubular section, a water outlet (58) at the rear end, and a waterinlet (59) in the middle of the hollow rear tubular section at aposition where the distance between it and the end of the watertemperature control post (57) is just equal to the distance between thecool water pipe (12) to the bottom of the water temperature controlsection (14). The water temperature control post (57) has two leak-proofrings (60) in the middle, and beneath its front end it has a shortcylindrical duct (61) corresponding in diameter to the width of thesecond selector slot (19).

The ring (62) has a block at its inner circumference adapted to engagein the selector slot (15).

The temperature control ring (63) has an oblique groove (64) at itsinner wall adapted to receive the cylindrical duct (61) and along itsinner wall it has a plurality of openings (65).

The temperature setting element (66) is a circular disk with arectangular opening having a pin hole (67) at a block above the opening,a round hole (68) at the center, two screw holes (69) below the hole(68), and a temperature setting pin (70) corresponding in diameter tothe pin hole (67) on the block, and a compression spring (71) beneaththe block.

The cover (72) is in the form of a disk with four equidistant blocks orretainer pieces around its center at one side.

With reference to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the embodiment, forassembly of the present invention, the valve extender (37) is insertedinto the connecting hole (35) of the valve sleeve (33). Then, the tiering (31) and the connection cover (33) are connected to the valvesleeve (33) at the respective side so that the water pressure pipe (32)is passing through the hole (36) and the stop hole (40), and is fixed inthe stop hole (40) to form a valve.

The said valve is then placed in the valve opening (20), the valve cover(34) is then fixed to the valve hole (16) to provide a shut-off valve.

The extending pin (41) and the compressing spring (45) are placed in theextending pin container (44), and then the extending pin stop head (43)is placed within the induction coil (46) which is fixed to the manifold(1) by screws. Then, the soft and flexible stop head (42) at the frontend of the extending pin (41) is pushing against the water pressurebalance passage (38) at the center of the valve extender (37).

The valve control post (51) is installed at the valve control section(13) and lead-proofing is achieved by its leak-proof rings (52). Afterconnecting the groove (56) in the valve control ring (55) and theselector pin (54), the valve control post (51) is pushes forward so thatthe selector pin (54) is located within the selector slot (15) and thevalve control ring (55) is connected to the manifold (1). The ring (62)is then placed beside the valve control ring (55).

The groove (64) in the temperature control ring (63) is first connectedto the selector (61), and then the water temperature control post (57)is placed in the water temperature control element (14) so that thecylindrical duct (61) is matching with the lower selector slot (19).After moving the water temperature control post (57) to the end of thewater temperature control section (14), the water inlet (59) at thewater temperature control post (57) is just aligning with the cool waterpipe (12) to completely seal the hot water pipe (11).

The temperature setting pin (70) is inserted in the pin hole (67) in themanner that the compression spring (71) is acting against thetemperature setting pin (70). Then, the temperature setting disk (66) isfixed to the manifold (1) with screws (not shown), and the cover (72) isfixed against the hole (68) on the temperature setting disk (66).

For the application with use of the light-detector, please refer toFIGS. 2 and 3A-B, which illustrate the action of the valve according tothe present invention. FIG. 3-A shows the condition where the valve isnot in use. As water pressure exists on the back of the water pressurebalance passage (38), the valve cover (34) closes the valve hole (16) toprevent water from flowing out through the water outlet (18) and valvehole (16). Whenever articles or hands are going to be washed beneath thevalve, the detector (73) detects and sends a signal to the inductioncoil (46) so that a magnetic force exists to attract the extending pin(41) to move backwards, (FIG. 3-B), then the stop head (42) on theextending pin (41) is disengaged from the water pressure balance passage(38), so that the pressure on the valve extender (37) disappears, and,due to opening of the water pressure balance passage (38), the waterpressure at the water outlet (18) is greater than that at the back ofthe valve extender, so that the valve is opened and water flows outthrough the water outlet (18) and the valve hole (16).

When the articles or hands are moved out of the detection scope of thedetector (73), as shown in FIG. 3-A, the stop head (42) is again actingagainst the water pressure balance passage (38), and water is no longerable to flow out through the water pressure balance passage (38) and thevalve hole (16). Instead water enters into the rear of the valveextender (37) through the water pressure pipe (32), with the increasingpressure following the flowing in of water until the pressure on theback of the valve extender (37) is greater than that at the valve hole(16), so that the soft valve cover (34) is moved by the valve extender(37) to close the valve hole (16) so that no more water will flow outfrom the valve.

The above action can exists only when there is a power supply acting onthe coil. At the condition of a power failure, water does not flow sincethe valve cover (34) is closing the valve hole (16), but by turning thevalve control ring (55), the groove (56) can cause the valve controlpost (51) to move forward, and the pin (53) will then push the valveextender (37) backwards as shown in FIG. 3C so that the soft valve cover(34) is not covering the valve hole (16) consequently, water flows outthrough the water outlet (18) and the valve hole (16).

For stopping water flow, as indicated in FIG. 3-D, the valve controlring (55) is turned in reverse direction to move the pin (53) away fromthe valve extender (37). Then, part of the water flow will enter towardsthe back of the valve extender (37), via the water pressure pipe (32),and the stop head (42) will act against the water pressure balancepassage (38). The pressure increases following increase of water flow,and the valve extender (37) will push the soft valve cover (34) to closethe valve hole (16) when the water pressure on the back of the valveextender (37) is greater than that on the water outlet (18), in order tostop water supply.

Rotation of the temperature control ring (63) can cause the watertemperature control post (57) to move forwards or backwards in ahorizontal level. Since the water inlet (59) on the water temperaturecontrol post (57) can match with the cool water pipe (12) to variousdegrees, and the base of the water temperature control post (57) canregulate the water outlet volume from the hot water pipe (11), a desiredwater temperature can be obtained by mixing cool and hot water at asuitable proportion.

In case the water temperature control post (57) has been sufficientlyshifted in the water temperature control slot (14), the hot water pipe(11) is completely closed, but the cool water pipe (12) is fullymatching with the water inlet (59) on the water temperature control post(57) so that only cool water is flowing out from the valve.

In case the water temperature control post (57) has been moved fully inthe opposite direction, the water inlet (59) on the water temperaturecontrol post (57) is entirely clear of the cool water pipe (12), so thatthe cool water pipe (12) is completely closed. Thus, hot water only isflowing out from the valve.

The opening (65) on the temperature control ring (65), after beingstopped by the temperature setting pin (70), indicates a position atwhich the water temperature control post (57) will account for a certainhot and cool water proportion. Therefore, the present invention canprovide hot water, cool water, or water of any desired temperature atthe user's discretion by referring to the position of control ring (65).

In conclusion, the present invention can operate with and without powersupply. It provides a water supply at times of power failure, and thedetector is operative with a supply of power for convenience purpose.The present invention permits mixing cool and hot water, and water atany desired temperature at the user's discretion. Indeed, it combinesthe merits of detector controlled and hand controlled faucets, buteliminates defects of both.

I claim:
 1. A light-detector, hand-controlled faucet with watertemperature regulator comprising in combination:(a) a cross-typemanifold having an end which can be connected to a source of water, saidsource including a pipe for supplying hot water and a pipe for supplyingcool water; said manifold also having a tubular transverse portion formounting in it a respective cylindrical valve control post, said tubulartransverse portion including a first walled selector slot, said tubulartransverse portion including a water outlet, and said water outletincluding a circular pipe coupling, and said tubular transverse portionincluding a valve aperture including a tubular projection and acircular, walled valve-connecting opening; said manifold having a watertemperature control section for mounting in it a respective cylindricalwater temperature control post, said water temperature control sectionhaving a first end adapted to communicate with the hot water pipe andthe cool water pipe, and said water temperature control sectionincluding a second walled slot at the end thereof which is opposite fromsaid end adapted to communicate with the hot water pipe and the coolwater pipe; said manifold having a mixed water outlet positioned incommunication at the hot water pipe; and said manifold having anelectric wire conduit extending from the space between said circularpipe coupling and said water outlet to the respective lateral endsurface near said circular valve-connecting opening of the transversesection of said manifold; (b) a circular tie ring with a circularprotuberance around its center and a tubular water pressure pipe at itsperipheral surface, said circular tie ring being adapted to beoperatively seated in said circular valve-connecting opening of saidmanifold; (c) a pliable valve sleeve, said pliable valve seat beingadapted to be operatively seated in said circular valve-connectingopening of said manifold, said pliable valve sleeve having an outerdiameter in conformity with the inner wall of said valve-connectingopening of said cross-type manifold, said pliable valve sleeve having ashoulder as extension of its peripheral surface, and said pliable valvesleeve having a valve cover with an outer diameter just equal to that ofsaid valve-connecting opening of said cross-type manifold and with aconnection hole at the center of said valve cover, and a hole in saidshoulder for communication with said tubular water pressure pipe of saidtie ring; (d) a valve extender adapted to be seated at least in saidpliable valve sleeve, said valve extender having a conical head, a neckwith an outer diameter in conformity with that of the connecting hole insaid shoulder of said pliable valve sleeve, a cylindrical portion, adisc-shaped recess in its bottom, and a tubular water pressure balanceduct extending along its center; (e) an annular connection cover adaptedto be seated in said valve-connecting opening of said cross-typemanifold, said annular connection cover having a stop hole forcommunication with said tubular water pressure pipe of said circular tiering; (f) a metal extending pin with magnetic properties; (g) a pliablecylindrical stop head operatively connected at one end of said metalextending pin; (h) an extending pin container comprising a dish-shapedportion and a tubular extension, for containing said extending pin; (i)a compression spring, operatively mounted in said tubular extension ofsaid extending pin container; (j) an induction coil for mounting in itsaid extending pin container and said compression spring in saidinduction coil, said induction coil being adapted to be operativelyconnected to said cross-type manifold; (k) a cylindrical valve controlpost which is adapted to operatively disposed in and which correspondsin diameter to said tubular transverse portion of said cross-typemanifold, said cylindrical valve control post having two leak-proofrings mounted at its central portion, said cylindrical valve controlpost having at its front end a pin adapted to be aligned with the centerof said valve aperture in said tubular transverse portion of saidcross-type manifold, and said cylindrical valve control post having acylindrical selector element corresponding in size to said firstselector slot in said tubular transverse portion of said cross-typemanifold; (l) a valve control ring having a first groove at its innerwall for cooperating with said cylindrical selector element of saidcylindrical valve control post; (m) a cylindrical water temperaturecontrol post adapted to be operatively mounted in and having a diameterin conformity with said water temperature control section in saidcross-type manifold, said control post having a hollow rear tubularsection, a water outlet at said rear end, and a water inlet in thecentral portion of said hollow rear tubular section at a position inconformity with the cool water pipe, said cylindrical water temperaturecontrol post having two leak-proof rings mounted at its central portion,and said cylindrical water temperature control post having beneath itsforward end a cylindrical selector duct corresponding in size to saidsecond selector slot of said water temperature control section of saidcross-type manifold; (n) a ring with a projecting block at its innercircumference corresponding to said first selector slot for cooperatingtherewith; (o) a temperature control ring having an oblique groove inits inner wall for cooperating with and corresponding in size to saidsecond walled slot of said water temperature control section of saidcross-type manifold, and said temperature control ring also having aplurality of openings along its inner wall; (p) a circular temperaturesetting disc adapted to be connected at said temperature control ringand having a mounting block, at least one rectangular opening, and a pinhole in said block above said opening, and said temperature setting dischaving a central round hole, and two screw holes below said centralhole; (q) a temperature setting pin adapted to be mounted in andcorresponding in diameter to said pin hole in said block of saidtemperature setting disc; (r) a compression spring for said circulartemperature setting disc and adapted to be positioned beneath said blockof said circular temperature setting disc; (s) a disc-shaped coverhaving four equidistant retainer blocks arranged about at one side aboutits center; wherein said valve extender neck is inserted in said pliablevalve sleeve, and clamped by said circular tie ring at one side and saidannular connection cover at the other side, with said water pressurepipe of said circular tie ring passing through said hole in saidshoulder of said pliable valve sleeve and said stop hole of said annularconnection cover, and said valve extender neck is fixed in said stophole of said annular connection cover; wherein said selector element ofsaid cylindrical valve control post is located within said first groovein said valve control ring, with said valve control post and said valvecontrol ring being connected to said cross-type manifold in such a waythat said cylindrical selector element is cooperatingly mounted in saidfirst selector slot, and said pin of said valve control post ispositioned at the center of said valve aperture of said transverseportion of said cross-type manifold; wherein said cylindrical selectorduct of said cylindrical water temperature control post is locatedwithin said oblique groove of said temperature control ring in such away that said cylindrical selector duct is operatively disposed in saidsecond selector slot of said water temperature control section of saidcross-type manifold, for regulating outgoing water temperature byselectively matching said water inlet of said cylindrical watertemperature control post with the cool and hot water pipes, andpermitting flowing of cool and hot water alone; wherein said valvecontrol ring cooperatingly engages said water temperature control post,and said valve control ring is operatively connected on said cross-typemanifold; wherein the valve composed of said valve extender, saidpliable valve sleeve, said annular connection cover, and said circulartie ring, is operatively connected to the valve-connecting opening ofsaid cross-type manifold; and wherein said induction coil is secured atsaid cross-type manifold in such a way that said metal extending pin isoperatively actuating with respect to said water pressure balance ductof said valve extender.
 2. The faucet as defined in claim 1 wherein saidvalve aperture is smaller in diameter than said tubular transverseportion of said cross-type manifold.
 3. The faucet as defined in claim 1wherein said cylindrical selector element of said cylindrical valvecontrol post is a short cylindrical selector.
 4. The faucet as definedin claim 1 wherein said temperature setting disc includes at least oneopening for said temperature setting pin for selectively settingoutgoing water temperature.
 5. The faucet as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid induction coil is secured at said cross-type manifold by screws.